Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday, October 24, affirmed Hezbollah's role as Lebanon’s primary defense against Israel, which has recently intensified its military operations in the country. Since late September, Israeli forces have been targeting Hezbollah strongholds near Beirut and conducting ground incursions into southern Lebanon in an effort to weaken the group.
Khamenei’s statement comes as Lebanon faces mounting casualties and displacement. Reports indicate that at least 1,552 people have died, and the United Nations estimates that ongoing violence has displaced around 800,000 people across the region.
“Hezbollah is the strongest defender of Lebanon and the most formidable shield against the ambitions of the Zionist regime, which has long aimed to destabilize Lebanon,” Khamenei stated. His comments follow Hezbollah's announcement of the death of Hashem Safieddine, expected to succeed leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike.
Khamenei’s remarks underscore Iran’s decades-long policy, rooted in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which supports the Palestinian cause and refuses to recognize Israel, calling it a “Zionist entity.”
In response to Lebanon’s humanitarian crisis, France has organized aid efforts. During an international conference in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that $800 million has been raised to support relief efforts in Lebanon. Macron urged a ceasefire, calling on Hezbollah to de-escalate and warning Israel that military victories may not lead to lasting strategic benefits.
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